Most of us do not have plenty of or simply no idea about eating disorders. From the term, we can make a wild guess that it is related to eating habits. However, most of us do not have proper knowledge and understanding about eating disorders.
This article is about Anorexia Nervosa, which is a type of eating disorder. As you are reading this article, you might want to know each and every detail about that particular eating disorder. Here, we are starting from the very basics of this eating disorder.
What Is Anorexia Nervosa?
As we have already mentioned, it is an eating disorder. An individual with this particular eating disorder limits the amount of calories intakes along with the type of foods they usually eat. Eventually, they lose weight.
As a result of this, they become unable to maintain an appropriate weight on the basis of their age, height, physical health, and stature.
They can either exercise compulsively or purge the food or do both through misuse of laxatives or intentional vomiting. They have an intense fear of gaining weight. Anorexia Nervosa is actually a serious medical condition and needs to be treated as soon as possible.
Often, people experience extreme weight loss and also anorexia at the same time, which can lead to dangerous health issues and even death. It is best to opt for proper medical treatment. You can try it now with the help of the best recovery centers.
Who Does Anorexia Nervosa Affect?
Despite the sex, age, race, ethnicity, economic status, and sexual orientation, anyone can experience anorexia. It can hit a person with any shape, size, and weight. Most commonly, anorexia affects young adult and adolescent women.
However, many men are also suffering from anorexia, along with an increasing number of older adults and children.
Signs And Symptoms Of Anorexia Nervosa
Just by their appearance, you can not presume whether a person has anorexia or not. As it also includes behavioral and mental components and not just physical, it becomes tougher to identify a person with this eating disorder.
In order to have anorexia, it is not a must that the person has to be underweight. However, all those victims might be less likely to get diagnosed due to socio-cultural stigmas against obesity and fat.
On the other hand, someone can be underweight, though he or she does not have anorexia. Always keep in mind that, along with behavioral and psychological components, it has physical aspects as well.
If you are looking for the signs and symptoms, we would like to inform you that a victim of anorexia has its effects on his physical health, behavioral and mental aspects as well. Here, now we will discuss the signs.
Physical Signs
Low body weight is the most well-known physical symptom of anorexia. At the same time, you also have to keep in mind that someone can have anorexia without being underweight. Apart from all those weight-related symptoms of anorexia, some other physical symptoms are also there you can look for.
- Over several months or weeks, significant weight loss.
- Unexplained change in BMI (Body Mass Index) or growth curve in not only children but also in growing adolescents.
- On the basis of one’s sex, age, stature, height, and physical health, not having or maintaining an appropriate weight.
Here are some other physical signs of anorexia, which results from the side effects of malnutrition and starvation.
- Hypotension, or low blood pressure.
- Bradycardia, slow heartbeat or arrhythmia, irregular heartbeat.
- Feeling tired.
- Fainting or dizziness.
- Feeling cold all the time.
- Poor focus and concentration.
- Irregular menstrual period, or amenorrhea, or absent periods.
- Purple or bluish color of feet and hands.
- Frequent illness and poor wound healing.
- Thinning hair, brittle nails, and dry skin.
- Abdominal pain, and bloating.
- Shortness of breath.
Emotional Signs
Let’s look at the mental and emotional signs of anorexia.
- Intense fear of gaining weight.
- Even if the person is underweight, they feel fat or overweight.
- An obsessive interest in dieting, calories, and foods.
- Having distorted self-image, unable to realistically assess the body shape and weight.
- Being very self-critical.
- Afraid of certain foods and for groups.
- Feeling a strong desire to always be in extreme control.
- Denying the seriousness of one’s low body weight or food restriction.
- Feeling depressed and irritable.
Behavioral Signs
Behavioral symptoms of anorexia nervosa are as follows.
- Making meals for others, but not for oneself.
- Continuously deity even when one is underweight.
- Extreme physical training, excessive and compulsive exercising.
- Right after eating, going to the bathroom.
- Using appetite suppressants or diet pills.
- Purging through misusing diuretics or laxatives and vomiting.
- Despite the weight loss, making frequent comments about being overweight or fat.
- A rustic change in dietary preferences, for example, eliminating specific food groups and food types.
- Changes in eating routines and also in eating habits.
- Withdrawing from friends and social events.
- Wearing layers and loose clothing for hiding weight loss and also to stay warm.
Causes Of Anorexia Nervosa
All eating disorders, including anorexia, are indeed complex conditions. For these particular reasons, the exact cause or reason of anorexia nervosa is still unknown. However, as per research environments factors, psychological traits, genetic factors, sociocultural factors could be responsible here.
Here are some of the factors which might be involved in developing anorexia. Let’s have a look at them now.
- Trauma.
- Genetic.
- Culture and environment.
- Emotional health.
- Peer pressure.
Here, we would also like to tell you that there is no single path that leads to anorexia and other eating disorders. For many individuals, disordered eating or irregular eating habits represent an inappropriate coping strategy, which becomes permanent over a considerable amount of time.
For some, this pathway to eating disorders is indeed actual, but not at all for everyone who is suffering from an eating disorder. But, you should take proper aftercare for anorexia once diagnosed.
Final Thoughts
We have tried to offer you all possible information about eating disorders. We also understand how limited your knowledge can be when it comes to eating disorders. So, in case you have any doubts or queries, we will suggest you contact us. We will try to come up with a solution as soon as possible.